A group of Watercare staff joined students and teachers from Ardmore School for a morning in the mud at the latest Trees for Survival planting day.
Trees for Survival promote the growing of native trees to create new habitats for our native flora and fauna. It also aims to teach children sound environmental principles by putting them into practice.
Watercare became a sponsor of the charity in order to support the community with riparian planting within the Wairoa River catchment, which includes Watercare’s Cosseys and Wairoa Dams.
This latest planting was held at a property in Brookby, less than 10km from Watercare’s Ardmore Treatment Plant.
The day’s objective was to plant as many native trees as possible in an effort to reduce erosion and sediment runoff into nearby waterways.
Over the course of the morning the work-party managed to plant well over 500 trees, including native flax and totara. In fact, they did such a great job that they ended up running out of trees to plant.
Environmental planner Adrian Percival who took part in the planting says: “We loved the day, as did the young kids. It was great to see them enjoying being involved in something so worthwhile.”